History of Magic Lesson 2
 

Ethan wandered into the classroom a good ten minutes before the lesson was due to start. He was humming and carrying the rather large gramophone from his office, various records stacked on top. Zan set up the gramophone and took a few moments to choose a record to play.

After a moment he selected the soundtrack to one of his favourite musicals and charmed the gramophone to wind itself so it would play. Humming along, Ethan walked around the classroom, nudging the desks with his booted feet so that they were all crooked. He stopped at his old desk and stroked it once, thinking about the inscription carved on the underside and the fact that the pattern of the wood on this particular desk looked kind of like an antipodean opal eye if you squinted at it in the right light.

Professor Truebridge wandered back to his own desk and slowly lowered himself into it, kicking his feet up and crossing them on the desk as he surveyed the empty clasroom to be sure everything was how he liked it. Humming to himself absently, Ethan flicked his wand at the door to unlock it and slid his sungglasses on, patiently waiting for the students to trickle in.

Celandine skipped into the classroom, levitating her copy of Hogwarts: a History behind her since it was fairly heavy and easier this way. She took a seat and smiled brightly at Professor Truebridge, "Hello Professor!"

Camira walked into the class lazily, eying the professor with slight disdain before she took a seat. He was the one, after all, who had decided to give her tons of homework. Really, the amount was just ridiculous.

After she sat down, she carefully took out her quill, parchment paper, ink, and the huge book that was Hogwarts: A History. Hopefully this would be all she needed. She couldn't imagine fitting anything else into her bag.

Ruby walked into the classroom and saw the Professor "Good Morning" she said as she smiled and sat down

Kayla entered the classroom of Professor Truebridge, with a small amount of excitement. She hoped that this class was just as good as the last, "Hello Professor Truebridge" she said as she passed his desk. "Hope you're having a good day." Kayla spotted Maddox and went and sat down beside him.

Eva entered and sãt down quietly. She chose the seat in the middle of the classroom as always. She smiled and waved at Kayla.
"Good morning, Professor." she greeted as she sat down. The girl took her notebook and her quill out.

Ethan nodded at the students amiably, watching them enter through his shades. "Hello Maddox, Celandine, Miles, Vanessa- This particular song is Magical Mr. Mistoffelees- Camira, Ruby, Kayla and Eva." He shifted his feet slightly; still crossed up on his desk.

Theo entered the class. He hoped it wasn't like the last one. Because he didn't want any chocolate. He smiled at the Professor, "Hello Sir."

Carrying her knackered copy of Hogwarts: A History happily in her hands, Evangeline made her way into the History of Magic classroom, eager for a new class. Upon hearing the music that was playing, she gave a tiny bounce and smiled at the Professor. "Morning, Professsooor!" She said with a nod, before making her way to a desk.

Kayla waved back to Eva, as she pulled her History of Magic book out of her bag and placed it carefully on the table, cause Professor Truebridge didn't like it when you treated the tomes with disrespect.

Barry heaved his copy of Hogwarts: a history into the room. He smilled to the professer and said "Good Morning sir" and preceeded to a frount seat, ready to volenter if neccesary, which it was. He might like Cela, but he wanted he points ,they were a nice distraction from thinking about life. He nodded to Cela in acknowledgment, he dare not speak a word yet.

Maddox was pulling out his quill, parchment, and Hogwarts a History, when he heard someone sit in the chair next to him. He looked over to see Kayla. He smiled and placed all his things neatly on the desk. But he wasnt going to speak. It seemed like every class he went to, somehow he got points taken away for talking. Not this class. He just nodded, smiled, and winked at Kayla, and continued to listen to the music being played.

Ana walked into the classroom wow music she thought. "Hello Professor!" and she sat down.

Lima headed to the class and saw that there weren't too many people there. But she saw Cam sitting there and headed over to join her. She cast the girl a smile and took her books out of her bag and put them carefully in front of her on the desk.

Shana wandered into the classroom and settled herself into a seat she went and sat by Miles and smiled.She got all the things she would need out of her bag and set them down on her lap.Hey Professor! She said politely.

Well. This felt slightly awkward. She gave Lima a smile nonetheless, and then looked at Maddox. Oh dear. She felt drama coming on for some reason. Not in class, of course, but soon. She pretended to be absorbed in Hogwarts: A History so she didn't have to feel the awkwardness anymore than necessary.

Jake entered the room and headed for a desk with no people there yet, so he could set up his supplies... and book. Such a pretty book it was... "Alright, sir," he nodded, his London accent coming out thicker than usual.

Where in the name of monkeys' toenails did that come from?

Shana turned to Miles and Smiled and hoped he didn't mind her sitting there she moved over a little bit incase he wanted anyone else to sit there.Hey Miles She said she smiled again.

Ruby saw Jake enter she smiled and said "Hi Jake how have you been not spoken since the train"

she was in a freindly mood today

"Gooooood Morning and hello to all of you; we will start in a few moments." Ethan sang the words in time with the song from the Cats musical that was playing on the gramophone and tapped his foot on the desk in time with the music.

She had no idea why she was going to this class, she didn't want to be anywhere near this professor, but she needed the points. She was more upset with Slytherin's standing than she was sitting in class with that man. She walked in not bothering to say anything to him and glanced around for someone she knew. She walked around the crocked desks. She waved and smiled at Camira, but she spotted Kayla she headed in that direction.

She walked over and took the seat next to Kayla. "Hey," She said to her softly with a smile. She smiled at the boy she was sitting next to not having a clue who he was.

Oh.No. This was not happening. Camira and Lima were friends?! He flared his nose, and his face turned red, but he wasnt going to do anything about this now. They were in class, and he was not about to lose points. When Camira turned and looked at him, he gave her the, 'We need to talk look.' Then looked away from her.







'Thank goodness.' He thought to himself. Class was about to start and he wouldnt have to deal with drama till afterwards. Maybe he would be calm by then.

"Oh yeah," Jake nodded. "Ruby, weren't it?" WHERE was this accent coming from? Jake quickly smacked himself up the side of the head to knock some sense into there. "But ya know, we shouldn't chat..." he trailed off, waiting for the last to arrive and the class to start.

Ruby nodded and awaited for the class to start

As she entered, Daphne Hopton find it inexplicably hard to think and walk at the same time. Her thoughts disturbed by music, she glanced sideways with a frown at the authority figure, wearing dark shades inside the classroom. As--to be expected.

Turning her back to the Professor to make a face, Daphne took a seat next to Celandine.

Lima turned in the direction that Cam was looking and noticed that Mads was looking like he was mad. Pfft, what did it matter to him where she sat? She shook her head at him and turned her attention back to the front. She was relieved when the Professor said that class would be beginning soon.

"Oh thats true. You probably shouldn't chat." Ethan agreed soberly, putting on a flawless accent of his own.

"So do I, Elizabeth. So do I." Truebridge answered.


"So I suppose I should teach you all... stuff." Ethan addressed the class. "Would anyone like to begin by telling me first, if someone was to be technical about it all, what is history anyway? Secondly, tell me what it means to you."

Camira blinked. What the? Was the professor singing? Oh dear. He was just as cracked as the last one. That certainly explained a lot. She just watched him sing and tap his feet, kind of in a mixture of amusement and horror. Like those horrible car accidents that make you a little sick but compell you to watch anyway.


And Oh no. He'd given her the look. The type of look that told her they had a long conversation coming up, one not in the "fun" catagory. She just sighed. This day was getting better and better.

Shana waited anxiously for class to start she was soo excited.

Camira raised her hand then, realizing the professor had asked a question. "History can be defined as a usually chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events. What it means to me is another story. I honestly don't much care for history and the only reason it's really significant to me is because I see it as a slew of lessons and mistakes our forebearers made. I think if one pays close enough attention to history, they can learn from the lessons and avoid a repeat of those mistakes."

Set raised his hand and said, "Histroy is the study of past events, and learning from them. Histroy means alot to me. It is a fun subject and a lot of very interseting stories."

She raised her hand. "History is just simply studying things from the past. And to me history means learning what my ancestors did so that I can either continue to do it or learn from their mistakes. In Africa we rely more in an oral history than a written one and each family has a old one that is in charge of keeping up with the family history." She explained. She needed the points and so did her house.

Shana raised her hand Professor is history telling people of the future what happend in the past ?Shana then thought again It means quite alot to me because you can find about what you ansestores lived like and it is very interesting.

Ruby raised her hand and answered "history are things that have been and gone sir, it tells us how what happened in the past has changed the way we live now, and it is important to me because i like to know why the world is the way it is today and who helped it become that way"

Celandine raised her hand, after thinking about the question for a moment, "History is almost a synonym with the past. It's kind of a study of cause and effect and what makes the world the way it is. History sort of shows us what not to do and teaches us to learn from the mistakes of humanity if we choose to listen to the lessons it teaches us." Celandine adjusted her pink hair ribbon and smiled at Daphne, "To me, History is the ultimate resource for the world; sort of a how-to guide. There's all these people that achieved things that you can be inspired by and all these atrocities that really make you reevaluate your moral standings. So its also a bit of a barometre for what is right and wrong in relation to society- in our case that would be the magical world."

"History for me is just some random events that occured in the past and influenced our present and will influence the future. It's an unbreakable chain of random actions if we must say. Each node having a certain impact on the nod that follows. It doesn't just focus on what happened yesterday, it can also give us details about why our present is what it is and what our future will be due to a certain event that took place in the past" Ray answered after he had raised his hand. "It can focus on anything maybe a person stepping on a butterfly would have an affect on the future, you know the butterfly effect, I think that is what the muggles at least call it!" Ray added.

Jake looked up at the professor suspiciously. He knew the use of the would shouldn't, he'd loopholed his way outta that one many a time. Fighting hard against his brain that was trying to comment, Jake raised his hand.

"History is... past events, if that makes sense. Technically, I think people would call it famous or well-known past events. To me, it's stuff that's been and gone, and what you can learn from. Something that was. Like when something is finished, it's History. Maybe it's similar to the other meaning, too..." Jake tried to round off his rambling. "I think, to me, yeah, it's a learning curve, where you can experience, and think back to it in similar future situations."

Jake let his hand drop down. Where did THAT come from?!

Lima raised her hand and said, "History is a timeline of past events that. And from History we learn what our ancestors did in order to gain knowledge, a sense of where we came from, and how we can work to improve upon ourselves."

History is everything that happened in this past regardless whether it effected the future or not, it happened, it's still History said Herminny.

Then she added saying, "History to me is all the past mistakes I have made and what I have learned from them, it is also events from before my time that has shaped the way life is today."

Kait raised her hand and said to the Professor, "History can be everything around us sir, it could of been something that happened 5 minutes ago, or thousands of years ago. It's what's in the past, most of the parts of history that we remember now are those moments that were significant, but not all history is significant, and lots of our history has been forgotten over the years." She paused for a minute before answering the second part of his question, "To me, history is much more that what we learn, it's who we are, and what we stand for. It's also part of who of our heritage. To me, parts of history represent who I am."

She felt like she had been rambling on, but very rarely was she able to stop saying what came to her.

Soooo need to go to work now
 

Kayla raised her hand. "History is a timeline of events that happened in the past, that have shaped our world to what it is today. History to to me is learning of past events and try to strive to achieve the good things that happened and learn from the bad things and not to repeat them."

Alessia was walking in the hallway when she heard pretty music. She quickly made her way to where the sounds were coming from... as she approached she recognized the music as Mungo Jerrie and Rumpleteazer... from Cats.... History of Magic? Really? Odd... More like History of Musicals... that was an old show. She stuck her head in the door and saw the handsome professor... Mreow indeed. She put a finger to her lips and kept quiet... well till she felt the need to dance or sing... he'd understand... and if he didn't... Oh Well.

"History is a quite marvolous thing indeed, the literal meaning itself is that its the study of all our past but its so much more!" Barry sung the last word. He felt like singing, not that he was a good singer , but singing comes from the heart " We learn from the past, we know not to make those mistakes again, cures that even our most skilled herbologists and muggle scientists could never find, many answers that we seek are hidden in the pages of history, and so to me history is the study, analys and investigation of the paaaaast!" Barry sang and he streached the last word.

Hannah Leigh rose her hand politley.
"History is the past events in the universe that do affect how we act to avoid making the same mistakes." she paused.
"History is just that to me. I want to be careful to not make the same mistakes that have happened,well, in history." she smiled.

Allie raised her hand.
"History is what has happened in the past." she said."History to me is...well important, I guess." Yeah that was a good word. "Because if you don't know history, then you cant move ahead..like learn from other peoples mistakes...and stuff."

Ana raised her hand "History is the studied of the past. The events, people, how these people lived, what did they do, how the society evolutes. I love history, and i find fascinating see how these people are just like us and yet different. And a fascinating part of History is the really antique History. And we should be able to learn with the History. In my muggle school my favorite subject was Biology and History so..." she said

wooo long reply....
 

"Good points there, Vanessa. Particularly the bit about decisions still effecting us."

"Right you are, Camira." Ethan nodded, "It certainly does provide the opportunity to learn from their mistakes."

"Abby, I'm glad you mentioned personal hitory and family history because all history is significant to someone; it's part of what makes you who you are after all. And certainly, certainly; It's the bigger most world-changing events that tend to spring to mind isn't it?" Truebridge commented.

"It is fun to me too. Nothing better than a good historical yarn." Ethan agreed, nodding at the young Hufflepuff.

"Ah yes; a slightly more positive aspect than learning from our mistakes is indeed knowing where our liberties stem from. Good points Maddox." Truebridge nodded, pleased.

Ethan nodded again, "I'm glad you mentioned oral history, Paris; and also the idea of someone being charged with passing the stories on."

"A timeline, yes indeed." Ethan offered an encouraging smile.

"Oh yes it certainly is. I think some of the most interesting aspects of history are the more mundane details of every day life in the past." Ethan agreed.

"Nicely put, Ruby." Truebridge nodded at the Slytherin girl.

Ethan was always surprised by this girl, "You are a good little thinker aren't you, Celandine? Cause and effect indeed. And Moral barometer? Well..." Truebridge nodded at the class, "Write that down please."


"Chaos theory! Excellent!" Truebridge gave a fist pump, "Excellent grasping of the concept as usual, Ray."

"Ha! When something is finished indeed. Good points." Truebridge put on an accent again when addressing Jake. Just Jake, nobody else.

"Very nicely put." Ethan agreed.

"Oh yes indeed, which leads me to my next question quite nicely." Ethan noted, making the effort to lift his shade briefly for a wink.


"To make the future better." Truebridge repeated, "High hopes my dear; I hope you succeed with your part in that."

"Yes! regardless of how it effects the future; if it happened in the past it is history."


"It is a shame isn't it? That things have been forgotten?" Ethan nodded, "History represents who I am." he repeated, nodding in agreement.

"Nicely put, Kayla." Truebridge noted her name down for points along with the others that had answered.

Truebridge noticed the Runes professor and offered a lazy wave, turning it into an indication that she was most welcome to sit.

"True. But don't think about that too much or you will self-destruct. And that warning is in the past so don't worry about it." Ethan observed with a straight face.

Truebridge offered a crooked smile; these Ravenclaws... honestly.
"Very good." Ethan agreed.

"I myself prefer to avoid mistakes too. Mine and others." Ethan agreed.

"Alright, Elizabeth mentioned 'Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it', a quote attributed to George Santayana; can anyone else give me some famous quotes about history?"

Hannah Leigh rose her hand again.
"Robert Penn Warren said, 'The past is always a rebuke to the present',"Hannah Leigh remembered. "And Carl L. Becker said 'History is the memory of things said and done.'"
She was glad that she had a large memory. Hopefully those were good quotes, she liked the Becker one because thats what he was talking about-what history was.
"There is also one I disagree with, professer. By Norman Pearson. He said 'To look back on history is to inevitably distort it.' I think to look back on history is to make it all the more greater and actually....helps us out with understanding it a lot more."

yay for google :D
 

Allie riased her hand.
"'There are two kinds of man: the ones who make history and the ones who endure it.' is a quote, Porffessor. But I dont remember who said it." she said.

Shana thought she thought about all the hhistorical people she'd learned about she looked all through her notes but no-one she couldn't remeber anyone then suddenly She raised her hand.Marcus Aelius Aurelius Once Said Every man's life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain. She then put her hand down.

Ray raised his hand again and answered "Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible, Maya Angelou"

Oh my God, quotes. Camira loved quotes. She knew quotes for everything, even something as dreaded as history. She quickly raised her hand. "I have a few that come to mind, sir. Gustave Flaubert, for one, who said "Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times." I also find Maya Angelou's "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again" stunningly accurate."

Ana raised her hand "erm..."We learn from history that we learn nothing from history", by George Bernard Shaw, for example"

Celandine wrote down her previous answer and raised her hand, " Jane Haddam said; People always seemed to know half of history, and to get it confused with the other half."

Lima raised her hand and said, "Sir Francis Bacon said that 'History makes people wise. '."

Jake noted the use of that accent when Professor Truebridge answered him. Hmmm... ok, he liked this guy. He was on the list. The List. Jake wasn;t sure which list, but when he made one, Truebridge would be there... unless it was an avoidance li- FOCUS!!!!!

After writing the necessary notes, Jake raised his hand, doubting whether this was a relevant quote, but stumped when it came to thinking of any more. "Ya can't live in the past, Professor." Ok, so less of a quote, more of a saying.

Qaz raised her hand and offered, 'David Ben Gurion said that Anyone who believes you can't change history has never tried to write his memoirs....which leads me to what I think is the most profound, but I don't know who said it.....History is written by the winners.'

Kait raised her hand again and recited of a quote that had been one of her father's favourites, he'd said it so many times she had it remembered. "Just because the solutions of problems are not visible at any particular time does not mean that those problems will never be alleviated -- or confined to tolerable dimensions. History has a way of changing the very terms in which problems operate and of leaving them, in the end, unsolved, to be sure, yet strangely deflated of their original meaning and importance." She said the last part of the quote slower than the last, making sure she got the wording right from what she remembered from growing up. She realized she didn't say who had said the quote so she raised her hand again and said, "It was M. I. Abramowitz who said that"

Set raised his hand and said repeated a famous histroy quote, "History: It's being made right now!". Set said. "I means that what we do know, becomes histroy in like one second, because it happend in the past."

Ethan watched as the pretty cat that had shown up in his last class appeared once again. "Who's... cat is this?"

"A rebuke to the present. That ties in well with the answers you all gave to the last question." Ethan nodded and paused to listen to her thoughts, "I like hearing opinons and I agree with you on that one. I don't think looking back is what distorts; its more the method of looking that provides distortion. So look right, right?"

"Ah and I believe there is a third type too." Ethan noted, "Possibly more. But it is a good quote, Allie."

Truebridge slid his glasses up onto his head, "This is one of my favourites. The study of questions! History is like philosophy except there are more facts to support speculation." He paused and looked around, "You can all quote me on that."

"True enough. The key is using the lessons you learned from the past, in your present, to shape your future." Truebridge noted, with a straight face and a little wink.

"Very true. That applies quite well to Wizarding history."

"Maya Angelou has several apt quotes regarding History. Ethan agreed.

"Those are good ones." Zan nodded, "Thank you, Vanessa."

"In other words; history repeats." Ethan clarified.

"That is a very true quote. Almost a fact really."

"Sir Francis Bacon was right about that. I am fairly wise." Ethan agreed deadpan.

"Philosophy. Like I said." Ethan noted with a nod of conviction.

Hmm. Zan couldn't quite hear the music over the deafening din of students thinking. He flicked his wand and turned it up slightly. "Yes that is a good quote. Perhaps it applies quite nicely to contemporary events here at Hogwarts?"

"I like it too." Ethan agreed again.

"Those are interesting ones, Qaz." Zan noted.

"Ah, thank you."

"Thank you. A good lesson in that one indeed." Truebridge responded gravely.

"Thank you Elizabeth."

"Those are some of my favourites, Juniper."

"So it does." Ethan agreed.

Ruby raised her hand and said "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds Francis Bacon an English lawyer and philosopher"

Alessia looked around. She wanted to hear her favorite song... Macavity... it was her favorite song. He wouldn't notice if she just did it nonverbally... so she flicked her wand and the needle on the grammaphone dragged to the right song making such a loud scratching noise, Alessia couldn't help but laugh... "Sorry, Professor Truebridge... I... couldn't help myself."

Chris raised his hand and said "I know one! 'To write history one must be more than a man, since the author who holds the pen of this great justicary, should be free of all pre-ocupation of interest, or vanity. Bye Napleon Bonaparte."

Zan looked at Professor Lupa in surprise as the music changed, her laugh setting him a bit off balance. "No concern." He waved it off and hummed along with the song for a bit to illustrate that he didn't mind at all.

Oh.

Class.

Yeah.

Truebridge cleared his throat, "So; where do we get history from anyway?"

Allie didn’t know what made her do it, but she found herself throwing her hands up in there and exclaiming, “There you are Minky! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
She didn’t know if that cat’s real owner was in the class or not, which would be quite embarrassing, now that she thought about it. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything. Oh well, too late now, might as well go along with it.
“She’s mine, Professor. I keep on losing her, I’m sorry. But she does seem to really like your class.” She said with a smile.

"Ohh and thank you, sir. But what is the third type?" she asked.

Kaitlynn's hand went up in the air again as she answered the Professor's question, "It comes from our past, all the events that have happened make up what call history, but at one point it was just every day stuff to those who were in the present of that time." She let her hand fall and listened to what the other students had to say.

Set raised his hand spat as if he had swallowed the textbook, "The word history comes from Greek ἱστορία (historia), from the Proto-Indo-European *wid-tor-, from the root *weid-, "to know, to see". This root is also present in the English words wit, wise, wisdom, vision, and idea, in the Sanskrit word veda, and in the Slavic word videti and vedati, as well as others. (The asterisk before a word indicates that it is a hypothetical construction, not an attested form.)" Set finished taking in a deep breath.

Shana thought and raised her hand We got it from the past people that lived in the past made history and we are making history right now for people in the future. Shana put down her hand and smiled at the professor.

Ethan blinked a few times and nodded slowly, "Alright Allie. I don't mind pets in class as long as they don't hurt anyone. Though... minky? Is a sweet one." Ethan extended his hand to the cat, "The third type? Why, the ones who learn from it of course."

Keefer stuck both hands into the air, as was his usual custom. "We get history from books, mostly. But it can be passed down orally as well. Also, to some degree, the earth itself can tell us history. Archaeologists have uncovered lots of things that help us know about the past. Geologists have learned things from rock strata as well."

Chris raised his hand "History is everything that has happened in the past and has been kept recoreded." he smiled

Alessia recognized the cat. For crying out loud Ili she thought to herself. She wasn't Miss Johnson's... "Miss Johnson, I don't believe she's your minky... though I may be wrong... She's... uhmmm mine..." Nevermind her alergy to felines... Really, a wolf with a cat. "Uhmmm" she stood and went, "KstKst..." she made the noise, but it sounded awful... "Uhmm, Come here little..." she couldn't call her Iliana! Hmmmm "Come here TinkerbellPrincessBuns..." She giggled internally thinking of what Ili would think of the name, but really... all Ili needed was to be given to a student!

Cela raised her hand, "The... past?"